Save the Date

Don't Wanna Wear a Veil on Your Wedding Day? I Don't Blame You. Here Are 8 Awesome Alternatives

Wed, 22 May 2013 14:06:22 -0500

I looooove a bride wearing a gorgeous, cathedral-length veil. Or even a shoulder-dusting "blusher." But as a bride, I wasn't going to wear a traditional veil any more than I was going to wear a jewel-encrusted ball gown. I just wasn't a veil-y bride. If you're not feeling the whole "traditional veil" vibe, either, here are eight awesome alternatives.

Veil Alternative 1

Silk Coil Hat From BHLDN via Lover.ly

Veil Alternative 2

Cara 'Tropical Flower' Hair Clip From Nordstrom via Lover.ly

Veil Alternative 3

Dawson From Untamed Petals via Lover.ly

Veil Alternative 4

Bridal rhinestone headpiece, hair comb - Dazzling twisted rhinestone and pearl headpiece - Style 245 From Etsy Shops via Lover.ly

Veil Alternative 5

Kennedy From Untamed Petals via Lover.ly

Veil Alternative 6

Tasha 'Complete Package' Headband From Nordstrom via Lover.ly

Veil Alternative 7

Photo by: Haley Renee Photography on Percy Handmade via Lover.ly

Veil Alternative 8

Photo by: Emme Wynn Photography on Bridal Musings via Lover.ly

For more alt-veil inspiration, check out the Alternatives to Veils bundle on Loverly!

Do you want to wear a veil on your wedding day? Do you like any of these alternatives?

Target Just Launched a Wedding Dress Collection—and They're ALL Less Than $130. (<- Not a Typo)

Wed, 22 May 2013 12:06:22 -0500

Considering the ridiculous assortment of goods you can already get from Target {My last online order included a sports bra, blueberry muffin mix, and a makeup bag }, it's not surprising that you can now get wedding dresses from Target too. The brand-new four-dress collection includes two dresses for $129.99 and two for just $99.99. Granted, the styling on the website leaves a LOT to be desired. (Stop shooting white dresses against white backgrounds!) But when they show the dresses on models, they totally look cute.

Wedding Dress 1

Tevolio Soft Satin Cowl-Neck Bridal Gown, $99.99.

Wedding Dress 2

Tevolio Soft Satin Ruched Bridal Gown, $129.99.

Wedding Dress 3

Tevolio Soft Satin Strapless Bridal Gown, $99.99.

Wedding Dress 4

Tevolio Soft Satin Cap-Sleeve Bridal Gown, $129.99.

I'd definitely have to see these dresses in person before making a judgement call, but if I were in the market for a super-simple wedding dress, I would 100 percent order all four (for less than $500!) just to give them a once-over, since Target is so awesome about returns. How amazing would it be to get your wedding dress for $100 and then upgrade it with a super-bling-y sash and majorly fancy-pants shoes? And I'm not gonna lie, I have a bunch of clothing from Target that I adore—including the world's best running pants—so why NOT check them out?

Would you give these wedding dresses from Target a try? Which do you think you'd like best?

Assuming it looked as good on me as it does on the model, I totally would've worn No. 1!

"My Boyfriend's About to Propose—but I Don't Want Him to!"

Wed, 22 May 2013 10:06:22 -0500

Writes Save the Date reader Cindy:

I saw my boyfriend's email and read that he is thinking about proposing to me on a trip we will be taking soon. I'm not ready to take the next step, and I have told him this multiple times. What should I do?

Here are my thoughts:

Usually I edit readers' emails, but I copied and pasted yours word for word, so naturally I'm wondering how you "saw" your boyfriend's email. I'm also wondering how old you are and how long you've been together.

If you're 20 and you've dated for five months and you're just not "there" yet, I'm totally with you. But if you're 30 and you've been together five years, then I'm kind of scratching my head.

I think either way you need to sit down with your boyfriend and have a talk about your future. Maybe start with, "It was so fun planning our vacation together; I can't wait to take it! Where do you think we'll go next?" And then segue into, "Where do you see us in a year? In five years?"

Assuming he already has marriage on the brain, he'll mention that in the convo. At which point you need to spell out exactly when you think you'll be ready to get engaged. Whether you've been together for five months or five years, if you're not going to want a ring for, say, two years, he deserves to know that. If there are certain "life deadlines" you want to meet pre-engagement, let him know about those. Do you want to be graduated from college? Out of debt? A black belt in karate? The more information you BOTH have about each other's plans for the future, the better off you'll be.

I think the only problem is if you don't see yourself marrying this guy ever. There's certainly value in dating guys you DON'T want to marry {Let me tell you about the DJ I dated pre-Rory. And the bartender. And the…well, you know what I mean. }, but if you don't see a future with this guy ever, you need to let him know that, stat.

Ladies, what do you think? Should Cindy confront her boyfriend? Or wait to see if the proposal happens? Should she just say yes and then drag out the engagement?

Have a wedding-y dilemma of your own? Email me!

Photo: Thinkstock.

4 Awesome, Easy Ways to Help Your Guests Enjoy Your Wedding Ceremony. (Yes, It's About You, but It's Not ALL About You!)

Tue, 21 May 2013 14:06:21 -0500

Obviously everyone loves dancing and cake, but the REAL reason you, your groom, and a hundred or so of your nearest and dearest "are gathered here today" is for the wedding ceremony. You know, the "marriage" part of the wedding. Yes, time-wise your ceremony will probably take up only a small chunk of your day. But it's an important chunk, so don't overlook the details here.

1. Do a Dry Run. Most couples have rehearsal dinners for a reason. And the reason is REHEARSING (not pre-gaming or catching up with your college friends), if that's not abundantly clear. I'm not saying you need to do a minute-by-minute run-through of the ceremony, but let your wedding party know where they'll be entering, where they should stand, and how they should exit. (Alone? In pairs? Doing a funky dance move, perhaps?) If you're going to be handing a bridesmaid your bouquet, or if you expect a groomsmen to hold on to your rings, give them the heads-up now. Otherwise your wedding party's going to wait until five minutes before your wedding to figure out who goes where, and that's going to stress out everyone, especially you. And if you're busy refereeing the wedding party in the hallway before your ceremony, it will also probably delay your big entrance. Which brings me to No. 2.

2. Show Up on Time. Many people will urge you, on the morning of your wedding, not to rush. "It's YOUR day! Nothing's going to start without YOU!" This is true, but while you're taking your sweet time, your guests are left waiting. And waiting. And waiting and waiting and waiting, in some cases. I understand that traffic exists or you want to wait 10 minutes after the scheduled start time to make sure you don't get upstaged by guests who wander in late, but after 15 minutes, you're no longer being fashionably late to your own party, you're being rude.

3. Consider Their Comfort. The advent of "rustic-barn chic" brought us weddings with bales of hay at the ceremony site in lieu of chairs or benches. Totally cute and SO on-theme. Unless the ceremony was an hour long, and the bride and groom didn't think to throw something over the prickly hay. Sitting with no back support and hay poking your butt through your silk dress for an hour is decidedly un-cute. Of course as the bride, you'll be so blissed-out that you could probably endure a midceremony hail storm and not notice. But your guests won't be QUITE so distracted, so make sure they're given appropriate seating and also that the temperature isn't furnace hot or freezing cold. (That means, even if you've dreamed of an oceanside ceremony your whole life, if the weather report says a drizzly 40 degrees, you move the party indoors.)

4. Make Sure They Can See and Hear. If your guests can't hear what's going on during the ceremony, they're going to start zoning out or playing Angry Birds. (Seen it happen.) Triple-check that your ceremony site has the proper sound equipment and that you test it the day before. And remember: It needs to be a setup that works for your officiant, who is probably used to projecting his voice, as well as a soft-spoken bride, groom, or guest who's giving a speech. Similarly, your guests will be more engaged in your ceremony if they can see what's going on. If they're seated on benches, they'll naturally shimmy so they have a decent view. If you're doing a prearranged chair setup, ask whoever's arranging them to stagger the chairs like this, so everyone gets a decent view:

(Obviously you'd have more than two chairs per side, but you know what I mean.)

As a guest, what annoys you during a wedding ceremony? Have you been to a wedding where the bride was majorly late or the officiant forgot the microphone?

Photo: Nadia D. Photography.

ROFL Alert: Headed to a Gay Wedding This Summer? DON'T Leave Home Without THIS

Tue, 21 May 2013 12:06:21 -0500

Damn you, gay summer weddings. With all your posh style and your pastel patterns. How's a straight girl supposed to cope?

I'm still giggling! When did SNL get funny again?!

Video: Courtesy of Saturday Night Live.

Justin Bieber Is Secretly Designing an Engagement Ring for Selena Gomez, According to "Insiders." Let's Hope They're Wrong

Tue, 21 May 2013 11:06:21 -0500

Cue the sound of Belieber hearts breaking around the world: Justin Bieber is working with Neil Lane to design a million-dollar engagement ring for Selena Gomez. At least that's what the (hopefully untrue) word on the street is.

From Hollywood Life: "Justin is planning to go through final designs with Neil in the next week," a source close to the designer told the Daily Star. "At the moment his favorite idea is a huge, canary yellow, princess-cut diamond surrounded by smaller diamonds and set in white or yellow gold."

(Sounds a lot like Kelly Clarkson's engagement ring.)

The site says that Justin, who I guess is currently touring, doesn't have a concert scheduled for July 22, Selena's 21st birthday, and he's planning to fly back to L.A. to celebrate with her. I'm hoping that the million-dollar ring is just a ridiculously over-the-top birthday present and NOT an engagement ring. (I suspect Taylor Swift feels the same way.) I mean, are Justin and Selena even officially back together?

Read the full story here.

Do you think Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez will get engaged? Do you think she'd say yes to his proposal? And do you think this engagement ring sounds like a monstrosity?

I do. Clearly.

Photo: Corbis.

What to Wear to a Wedding When You're Expecting. (P.S. I Have News!)

Tue, 21 May 2013 10:06:21 -0500

I actually have TWO big pieces of news to share with you all! (No, NOT twins!) In case my headline didn't make it abundantly clear, Emmett's going to be a big brother in late September! (Or early September, if Baby No. 2 is an early arrival, like Baby No. 1!)

I wasn't really showing (or suffering, thankfully) during Bridal Market, but most of my wardrobe was the wrong side of snug in the middle, which made getting dressed for fashion shows an absolute nightmare. Until I ordered some so-chic-they're-barely-maternity-wear pieces from Hatch, which is owned by the same lovely woman who owns Two Birds, a collection of bridesmaid dresses I adore. But back to Hatch. Here are the two pieces I basically alternated for six days straight.

The Jumper, $248.

The Afternoon Dress, $208.

Yes, they're spendy, but my philosophy when shopping for maternity clothes has always been to buy very few insanely versatile high-quality pieces, and wear the bejesus out of them. My only regret with these two items is that I didn't splurge on them the first time around. I would have loved to have worn both for TWO pregnancies!

So, yeah, by switching up my jackets, jewelry, and shoes, I wore each item three times during Market. And I've worn them countless times since. In fact, these two items are on such perma-rotation that I'm planning on ordering one more item from Hatch ASAP.

The Dinner Party Dress, $298.

(Yes, I only buy clothes that are black or navy. I'm a New Yorker. Let it go.)

If I had a normal office job and wasn't "with child" (<-gag), I'd probably feel weird about wearing the same three items on a rotating basis. However, I think being pregnant TOTALLY gives you a pass. Everyone knows that nothing else fits—and if you switch up your accessories enough, people probably won't even notice.

I also think all three of these items would be SUPER cute to wear as a wedding guest. I've been trying to make the "wedding-guest jumpsuit" happen for years (much to many readers' dismay!), but jumpsuits are more popular than ever now. AND if anyone can pull off a questionable fashion piece, it's a preggo lady! (Like I said, people get that nothing else fits!)

In OTHER major news: I wanted to tell you guys that Rory (and Emmett!) and I bought a house yesterday! Not the most wedding-worthy tidbit, but longtime readers will remember that my career at Glamour started four years ago with a little personal finance blog, where I was a writer with about $30,000 in debt and god-awful credit. Little Miss Fortune's come a LONG way!

Which Hatch item do you like best for a wedding guest? Do you have any big news to share?

I'm probably going to crash a wedding this summer, just so I can wear my jumper!

"Can I Wear This White Dress as a Wedding Guest?" Erm, I Say DON'T

Mon, 20 May 2013 14:06:19 -0500

Liz Claiborne Mirror-Print Sheath Dress from JCPenney, $45.

Writes Save the Date reader Beth:

My husband's co-worker is getting married in July, and the reception is in the evening at a country club. I really want to impress his co-workers, most of whom I've never met. I fell in love with this dress, but is it appropriate to wear to a wedding since it's ivory and black? Help!

Here are my thoughts:

Sorry, but I wouldn't.

I mean, look, obviously you're not going to get mistaken for the bride in this dress, but there are still several reasons I think it's a no-no:

1) It's mostly white. The bride might not care at ALL about what her guests are wearing, but I can pretty much guarantee that a busybody great-aunt (or SOMEBODY there) will be all abuzz about "that lady who's wearing white," so why not just pick another color? ANY other color.

2) It's not that dressy. Obviously it will all depend on which evening the wedding's happening, but this just doesn't feel very festive to me, especially if the wedding's on a Saturday night.

3) You said you want to impress his co-workers. If you hope to make an awesome first impression, I wouldn't risk it with this dress. They too could be totally cool with it, but why not pick a dress that's (again) ANY other color, juuuuust in case?

4) I'm guessing you're not close with the bride. If the bride were your co-worker, you could 100 percent email her a photo of the dress and ask her to weigh in. But assuming the two of you aren't on a "shoot her an email" basis, you don't want to be the plus-one who's pestering the bride. (See: You said you want to impress his co-workers.)

Ladies, what do you think? Should Beth wear this dress? Or suck it up and buy something different?

Have a wedding-y dilemma of your own? Email me!

OMG! Do NOT Put These Items on Your Wedding Registry. (What's WRONG With People?)

Mon, 20 May 2013 12:06:20 -0500

I was clicking around the WWW recently when I stumbled across a blog post called "11 Tech Items to Consider for Your Wedding Registry." And proceeded to spit coffee all over my laptop. {But don't worry! It seems I'm allowed to register for a new one! } I'm not naming any blog names, but here's the list:

1. DSLR camera, like the Nikon D800
2. Laptop
3. iPad
4. Flat-screen TV
5. Record player, like this affordable Wood Turntable
6. iPod speakers
7. Blu-ray player
8. Gaming system
9. Stereo system with surround sound
10. The Nest Thermostat
11. High-tech washer-dryer

I know I tend to be old-fashioned when it comes to registries, but lots of the items on this list made me cringe. The writer did check in with etiquette pro Anna Post, who said it's fine to have tech-y items on your registry, which I agree with, but I'm wondering if she shared the above list of "a few basic items to consider."

For starters, No. 1 is a THREE THOUSAND DOLLAR camera. I'm all for adding registry gifts that multiple guests can chip in for, but this just seems greedy.

2, 3, 4, and 9 could be OK, as long as you're not asking for top-of-the-line models. A laptop can start in the $200 range and a small flat-screen in the mid-$100s. But all of these can easily cost into the thousands. And I know there are other standard registry times that cost a few hundred dollars (a KitchenAid stand mixer, All-Clad pots and pans), but generally speaking, those are items that will last a lifetime. I've literally gone through three laptops in the time I've had my KitchenAid. And personally, I'd rather not buy a couple a gift that's going to be in a landfill (or at least be totally outdated) in five years.

5, 6, and 7 I'm OK with. It's fun to have some not-too-serious items on your registry, and they're all around the $100 mark. (Although again, I'm partial to items that stand the test of time, and I wonder about the shelf-life of all of these.)

I'm sorry, but 8 just kind of grosses me out. I don't care if you play video games, but buy your own PlayStation. You could certainly argue that your hobby is gaming where mine is baking, but…I don't know. Just ick.

10, a $250 thermostat, feels gimmick-y to me. I guess if you have a bunch of traditional registry items and you want to throw that into the mix, fine.

And a high-tech washer and dryer, 11, are edging their way into "greedy" territory in my book. The cheapest front-loading washer I found was pushing $600, and the matching dryer cost the same. And these were the basic-fancy models. The fancy-fancy models were $1,300-plus.

I guess I'd be more comfortable with this list if it had some parameters. Like, "Here's a specific high-tech washer that is well-priced and offers a bunch of great features." But I don't think brides and grooms should consider this list a green light to go on a high-tech gift grab.

And of course it's a little tougher to set up a wedding registry if you already live with your groom and own a bunch of stuff, but I'd rather upgrade my dishes (and donate the old ones) than have my wedding guests think I'm greedy.

Am I being too uptight? Would you be weirded out if you saw a $3,000 camera on a friend's wedding registry? Or is that just what the kids are asking for these days?

Photo: Courtesy of Amazon.

A Peek at Donald Faison and CaCee Cobb's Super-Fun Wedding, Including Cameos by Jessica Simpson and Zach Braff. And a Clip of Someone Doing the Worm

Mon, 20 May 2013 10:06:20 -0500

Scrubs' Donald Faison said "I do" to CaCee Cobb, a.k.a. Jessica Simpson's best friend, back in December, and their video guy is sharing a sneak peek at what looked like a super-fun party—with a bluegrass band! In my professional opinion, any wedding that features someone doing the worm was probably a blast.

CaCee & Donald // A Buzz from Wade! on Vimeo.

From People: Other guests included Ashlee Simpson and Seth Green, Donald's Scrubs costars Zach Braff and Sarah Chalke, and his Clueless costars Breckin Meyer, Elisa Donovan, and Stacey Dash.

It thrills me that Donald is still friends with the cast of Clueless, although I'm wondering why Alicia Silverstone wasn't on the guest list. That is way harsh, Tai. I mean Donald.

Read the full story here.

Thoughts on Donald Faison and CaCee Cobb's wedding?

It looked like tons of fun! It's nice to see a bride and groom who can let loose!

Video: Vimeo/Wade!

134 Wicked Awesome Wedding Ideas + 4 Fab Real Weddings = Loads of Wedding-y Goodness for You to Get Lost In

Fri, 17 May 2013 18:38:17 -0500

134 Wicked Awesome Wedding Ideas

If you can't bear the thought of wearing heels to your wedding, here are 9 cute pairs of flats! —You Are My Fave

Dress up your wedding with centerpieces that cost a mere 20 dollars each! —Somewhere Splendid

Consider these 8 ideas to make your wedding more fun! —SheFinds

Pick up one of these 13 pairs of cuff links for your "geeky" groom! —PopSugar

Try this easy wedding-stress reliever: LOL at the 21 celebs we ALL thought we'd marry! (Luke Perry? Um, YES!) —Huffington Post

Opt for one of these 10 summery bridal bouquets! —Bridal Guide

Try these 10 modern veils on for size! —Brooklyn Bride

Have a little smile over these 15 pairs of super-unique wedding shoes. —The New York Times

Save 15 percent on your cake topper! —Once Wed

4 Fab Real Weddings

Wedding with a tractor? Why not?! (Top photo.) —Inspired by This

This artsy bride and groom had such fun wedding signage! —Ruffled

Love this Dallas bride's leafy bouquet! —Sara & Rocky

Watch this regular-looking girl be transformed to a breathtaking bride in traditional wedding garb from Tokyo! —A Cup of Jo

Also:

Didja see: Hangover star Justin Bartha is engaged to fitness trainer Lia Smith!

Are you doing anything wedding-y this weekend?

We're going to an outdoor concert in Brooklyn's Prospect Park tomorrow. And on Sunday we're headed to Jersey to catch up with Petra and her fam!

Photo: Raya Carlisle via Inspired by This.

Which Dress Fabrics Work Best for a Summer Wedding?

Fri, 17 May 2013 14:00:04 -0500

You may be dreaming of satin wedding dress, but if you're getting married in the sweltering summer months, is it your best bet? Brides' wedding experts are here to answer your wedding dress questions.

Is satin too heavy a fabric for a summer wedding? I'm getting married in June.

A satin gown is best for a fall to early-spring wedding. Since you'll be marrying when temperatures will be balmy, choose a dress made from a lightweight, airy fabric like silk-organza, tulle, or chiffon.

—Written by Brides

Are you having trouble finding the perfect wedding dress for summer? What fabrics do you think you'll choose?

Photo: Courtesy of Marchesa

The 11 Most Ridiculously Amazing Wedding Dresses I Spotted at Bridal Market! (Warning: Grab a Glass of Water, Because These Dresses Are HOT)

Fri, 17 May 2013 12:03:16 -0500

If gorgeous wedding dresses get you all hot and bothered {Um, yeah! }, you're going to want to turn up the AC. My most-favorite dresses from the spring 2014 runways are SERIOUSLY hot.

Wedding Dress 1: Vera Wang

Wedding Dress 2: Theia

Wedding Dress 3: Reem Acra

Wedding Dress 4: Monique Lhuillier

Wedding Dress 5: Carolina Herrera

Wedding Dress 6: Jenny Packham

Wedding Dress 7: Angel Sanchez

Wedding Dress 8: Heidi Elnora

Wedding Dress 9: Kelly Faetanini

Wedding Dress 10: Modern Trousseau

Wedding Dress 11: Oscar de la Renta

Which one of these wedding dresses is your favorite?

Photos 1 & 2: WWD/Thomas Iannaccone. Photo 3: Credit: Fairchild Archive. Photos 4, 7 & 9: WWD/George Chinsee. Photos 5 & 11: WWD/John Aquino. Photo 6: Courtesy of the designer. Photo 8: WWD/Steve Eichner. Photo 10: WWD/Kyle Ericksen.

5 Real-Girl Engagement Rings With Enough Sparkle to Get You Through the Weekend

Fri, 17 May 2013 10:02:17 -0500

Let's start this Friday off right, with some bling-a-rific reader engagement rings—including two with colorful diamonds!

Engagement Ring 1

This pretty ring belongs to a reader named Jesi.

Engagement Ring 2

Emily's boyfriend wanted to but her a bold and bling-y engagement ring. She wanted something classic and antique-looking. This is the ring they settled on. (The center stone was his grandmother's!)

Engagement Ring 3

Rhia and her boyfriend, Dallas, were walking around drinking coffee when he handed her his cup and kneeled down to tie his shoe—and then pulled out an engagement ring. "He said he had been carrying the ring around for a month, waiting for the perfect moment!" she says.

Engagement Ring 4

Courtney didn't want a plain diamond—she wanted something colorful in a classic setting so her ring would be traditional with a twist. Her boyfriend proposed with this pink diamond ring, which she calls "magical"!

Engagement Ring 5

Speaking of colorful diamond's, Jessica's boyfriend chose this blue diamond ring. Since he was attending school to get his second degree, she was totally surprised when he proposed.

Which of these engagement rings is your favorite?

If you'd like to share a photo of your ring on Save the Date, you can click here to submit it with the contact form. Or you can email a photo to glamour.weddings.girls@gmail.com. I try to run reader engagement ring posts often, so take your time and send a biggish, nonblurry photo! (Please DON'T send an Instagram photo or add text or special effects!) And if you've already sent a pic, sit tight—it's coming!

Bling-y Wedding Rings for Guys: Do or Don't? (Apparently They're Popular!)

Thu, 16 May 2013 14:08:16 -0500

Confession time: About six months ago, Vera Wang started selling men's wedding bands through Zales—where you can also buy her sparkle-tastic engagement rings—but I didn't share them with you guys. Why? Because all of the men's rings feature diamonds, and I was thinking, My readers SO will not go for that!

Vera Wang Love Collection Wedding Band from Zales, $1,999.99.

Then I got an email from a reader named Elle, whose groom specifically requested a wide wedding band with a "sizable" center stone. And THEN I just heard from some industry people that bling-y wedding rings for guys are flying off the jewelry counters lately. Well, color me surprised!

So I'm wondering: Am I totally out of touch with guys' style? Does your groom want a bling-y wedding ring?

Click here to see all of the bling-y Vera Wang Love rings for men.

Are bling-y wedding rings for guys a Do or a Don't? Would your guy wear one?

Rory's wedding ring is SO plain!